Justice Department Releases Millions Of Epstein Files

On January 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a massive trove of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender whose crimes and connections have haunted the American public for years. The release, totaling more than 3 million pages, was announced by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche during a press briefing, marking what many hope will be a new era of transparency following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

"Today's release marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process to ensure transparency to the American people and compliance with the act," Blanche declared at the DOJ’s Washington headquarters, as reported by ABC News and CBS News. The release includes more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, a staggering volume by any measure. Yet, even this deluge represents only part of the DOJ’s full Epstein archive, which Blanche said contains over 6 million documents.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in November 2025 after passing Congress with overwhelming support, required the DOJ to release all unclassified records related to investigations and prosecutions of Epstein and his convicted associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, within 30 days. The law’s intent was simple: shine a light on years of secrecy and speculation, and provide answers to a public hungry for the truth. The DOJ, in turn, assembled a team of 500 attorneys to review, redact, and prepare the material for public consumption.

But the release has not come without controversy. Despite assurances from the DOJ, attorneys representing hundreds of Epstein survivors discovered that the names and identifying information of numerous victims appeared unredacted in the newly released documents—including several women whose names had never before been publicly associated with the case. "We are getting constant calls from victims because their names, despite them never coming forward, being completely unknown to the public, have all just been released for public consumption," said Brad Edwards, a lawyer who has represented Epstein victims for more than 20 years, in an interview with ABC News. "It's literally thousands of mistakes."

Edwards and his law partner, Brittany Henderson, began flagging these errors to the DOJ as soon as the files went online. According to Edwards, the DOJ asked them to identify each problematic document so they could be pulled down, but he described the task as "impossible." His advice to the DOJ was blunt: "The solution is take the thing down for now. There's no other remedy to this. It just runs the risk of causing so much more harm unless they take it down first, then fix the problem and put it back up."

The DOJ, for its part, maintains it undertook "an unprecedented and extensive effort" to protect the privacy of survivors. Blanche emphasized that "we redacted every woman depicted in any image or video, with the exception of Ms. Maxwell. We did not redact images of any man, unless it was impossible to redact the woman without also redacting the man." Still, the errors have raised fresh questions about the government’s ability to handle such sensitive material—and the real-world consequences for those whose abuse was meant to remain private.

The release also included a chart showing connections between Epstein and various employees and associates. While many names and faces were redacted, some remained visible, including Ghislaine Maxwell, Jean Luc Brunel, and Epstein’s lawyer and accountant. An internal FBI document from August 2019, produced just five days after Epstein’s death, listed nine persons as family and associates, with eight labeled as "co-conspirators." Notably, Maxwell is the only person aside from Epstein to have been charged in connection with his crimes, though the files suggest ongoing interest in other potential accomplices.

One of the most significant documents made public for the first time is a 100-page indictment from Epstein’s 2005 criminal case in Florida. The document details 58 of 60 charges against Epstein for his behavior toward six alleged victims. Ultimately, Epstein accepted a controversial plea deal, avoiding federal prosecution and serving just 13 months of an 18-month sentence for state charges. The plea agreement, and the secrecy surrounding it, helped fuel years of suspicion and outrage from survivors and the public alike.

Also among the newly released files is Epstein’s trust agreement, executed just two days before his death in August 2019. The document reveals plans to distribute more than $288 million and a collection of lavish properties—including mansions in New York, Palm Beach, Paris, and a sprawling ranch in New Mexico—to at least 44 beneficiaries. Epstein’s last known girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, was to receive $50 million and multiple properties, along with a near-33 carat diamond ring described in the will as being "in contemplation of marriage." Other beneficiaries included his longtime lawyer Darren Indyke, accountant Richard Kahn, brother Mark Epstein, pilot Larry Visoski, and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was set to receive $10 million. Despite these grand plans, the estate currently holds only about $127 million, much of it tied up in ongoing litigation in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The DOJ’s release is not the final word on the Epstein saga. Blanche explained that some materials were withheld to protect ongoing investigations, survivor privacy, and to comply with federal law. The department is submitting a final report to Congress, along with written justifications for all redactions, which will be published in the Federal Register. "I can assure that we complied with the statute, we complied with the act, and we did not protect President Trump. We didn't protect or not protect anybody," Blanche told reporters. He added, "There's a hunger or a thirst for information that I do not think will be satisfied by the review of these documents. There's nothing I can do about that."

Indeed, speculation about the involvement of high-profile figures has swirled for years. Both former President Bill Clinton and former President Donald Trump have denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. The files released thus far have included numerous photos of Epstein with Clinton, but little substantive information about Trump. In fact, Blanche reiterated that "every document that mentions Trump will eventually be released, assuming it’s consistent with the law." U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton is reportedly investigating Epstein’s ties to prominent Democrats and major financial institutions, following a request from Trump in November 2025, but no charges have been filed against any high-profile political figures.

The road to this moment has been long and fraught. Prior to Friday’s release, the DOJ had posted roughly 12,000 documents totaling about 125,000 pages, including photos of Epstein’s properties and associates. Lawmakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna of California, have accused the DOJ of "openly defying the law" by failing to disclose all the files at once, but department officials insist the sheer volume and sensitivity of the material required a rolling release.

For survivors and advocates, the fight is far from over. The release of these files, warts and all, is a step toward accountability—but also a stark reminder of the government’s ongoing responsibility to protect those who suffered most from Epstein’s crimes. As the files continue to be reviewed, redacted, and scrutinized, the public’s demand for answers—and justice—remains as strong as ever.